Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Suggestions for complete system ~ $3,000 CAD

I agree that a sub is not completely essential. Before I bought my Axioms and SVS subwoofer, I had Paradigm Monitor 9s without a sub. I didn't really miss the sub at all with music. And since I had never owned a sub, I didn't miss it with movies, either.

Get the best you can get with your money. If it turns out you don't have enough left for a sub, then know you can always buy one later.

Massive ditto on sidvicious and pmbuko -- and besides, with that config (with M80s or 60s as mains), there will be a nest egg fund to jumpststart getting a sub. But your friend can go without one at first, which will give him a better base of comparison anyway, and the enjoyment factor on music will be tremendous either way.

I'll echo the above.

Ditto here. The sub is a really nice thing to have, but not essential right away and can certainly be added later. If you dilute your start-up system to divert $$ for a sub, at SOME point, you'll be unhappy with the compromise made by saving initial $$ on the other speakers. That will eventually become an expensive itch to scratch.

If you opt for the M80s (BTW, the M60s should be well beyond adequate for you), there may be an increase in the amount you must spend for a receiver since you will need to assure that it can drive 4 ohm speakers.

wow...guys, in this case I have to whole heartedly disagree. If he uses this system 50/50 HT/music, then he really should get a sub. Adding a good sub to my system was by FAR one of the biggest improvements in my system.

While I do agree that the sub can make a huge difference, I just think if it was me, I'd go the 'minus-the-sub' route. Otherwise he's initially compromising on the front speakers or the sub, and possibly both. Then a year down the road when he's saved up some more coin, he'll undoubtedly be bit by the 'upgraditis/what-if bug'. He'll be left wanting to upgrade his mains and it will cost him more money in the end than if he'd just waited a bit on the sub. Fight the disease.

I agree with spiffnme. Especially if he's looking for some "punch" in his setup, he'll want a sub to throw out those low frequencies. I think many people look forward to those in a high end system. Without that, I believe he'll be disappointed.

Tell him to sell his wife's car, and buy an HSU and an SVS...

Michael

I don't think he's skimping at all with M50's and a VP100 up front. From every owner I've heard from the M50's are great. They're just not quite as detailed as the M60's, which is this guys case, sounds like it would be appropriate.

M50s, vp150, qs8s, some kind of decent sub, and a $300-$500 receiver would be far from a compromise. I'm pretty sure that would shake the house and destroy all of his HTIB buddies. I think that is right at $3000 Canadian, eh?